9th entry

Can traditions be broken completely? Support/provide answers.

Traditions and cultures are such complex ideas that there are no true adequate words to describe them.They are ideas that’s very tightly bonded that cannot be broken completely. Yes, culture does change over the time through many influences, such as technology, environment, people and etc., but no culture in the history of the world has ever disappeared completely. The stone age tribes and cultures that we thought was extinct still existed on this earth with many tribes that we were ignorant of, and who knows what other culture still exists on this earth without everyone knowing. Also, cultures that died out with the population didn't necessarily disappear. Maybe there might not be anyone who follows those customs and traditions but still there are records that are left behind in this Earth which can be recognized and acknowledged by the rest of the world.



Many times people can think that traditions can be broken once another country or foreigner takes over. This is not always right. For example, when Korea was taken over by the Japanese and was forced upon the Japanese rituals and cultures Koreans became more conservatives and patriotic. There were more people who became nationalistic which motivated them to never give up on independence. The culture was more reinforced although it might have been hidden or underground. Also, in the UK the pilgrims went to the New World, America, in order to find a way to fix their corrupted church. They were determined to make a new church that was solely based on God and his teachings.


People’s determination and motivation are strong and extremely hard to break once it comes down to their culture and identity. They will try their best no matter what happens to them. This is how God made us so that when our culture is based on God after the acceptance of his words that we don’t stop but are determined to spread the word of God. Based on the way God has made us it is evident that our cultures and traditions are not some silly thing that can be broken down once there are some troubles, but rather is something that strengthens after it has overcome those problems that seemed to have no solutions.

8th entry

What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

Every single part of the Sawi culture was intriguing. All the different aspects were so atypical than to what we are exposed in our everyday life. The language with the tenses that was numerous to the point where only Don Richardson was the only foreigner to ever learn the language. The one part of all the things in this Sawi culture that most intrigued me was that treachery was ideal. Treachery to other tribes, which lead to cannibalism, was distinctive to the other twenty first century cultures.


Cannibalism is not something that we see in Korea, America, or any other countries in which people conclude as “civilized.” Cannibalism is considered as a sin in my culture, Christianity and Korean. I think it was interesting to visualize something that was not even supposed to be thought about in my culture. It’s weird how human beings eating other human beings were not for just survival instincts but rather to gain popularity and strength in one society. This made me think in our society what people need to gain for popularity and high social status. Money was the answer to this question. The green paper is what rules the minds of people in this what people called “civilized.” Then I thought to myself, is cannibalism a more corrupt sin than this green paper in which the world today rotates around? I thought no. Money can bring as much sin as cannibalism does. Cannibalism brings death or murder, but money can bring more variety of sins; drugs, alcohol, murder, adultery, treachery, and suicides. Cannibalism may be one of the sins but in God’s eyes they’re still the same sin as someone stealing a pencil. So who are we to make the conclusion that the Sawi culture is bad and corrupt? Yes, their culture may be intriguing but definitely not something that should anger or upset someone. We need to look among our self and see through the perspective that which we look at the Sawi’s at.

By the end, cannibalism was the part of the culture that intrigued me the most because it enabled me to look back at our cultures and see flaws in it. We say cannibalism is disgusting and horrific when the green paper that we let control us is as much destructive as cannibalism.

7th entry

What does God expect us to do for other cultures and faiths?

God, Faith, and culture. These three words or concepts define each other. To believe in God and his presence we need faith and a culture that reflects upon the teachings of God. To be faithful means to love God and trust him without any doubts in their own cultural ways. Having a unique and a strong culture means to have a culture that either is based upon God and faith or something that reflects upon it. All three of these words build upon each other and enhance each words connotation that underlies them. Back to the question, God expects us to accept other cultures and faiths, and identify that there are other religion that coexists in this world with the word of God.


I believe the main thing that God expects us to do is to help bring out the best of each culture and faith by introducing to them the truth. The truth and understanding about the origin of the world, people, and every little thing that exists upon this magnificent Earth. God also want to save each culture by saving each and every one of those people. To make this wish or goal to happen we need to as Christians go out into the world and preach the salvation Jesus has brought 2000 years ago. It is our need to enlighten those with the meaning that lies upon the symbol of the cross, and blood of Jesus. It is our path that needs to bring the concept of eternity with the Creator in the life after death. Finally it is our duty to teach to the other cultures the true depth of everlasting love from God which they were not exposed to in the shallow world they are living in.

6th entry

6. What does Jesus want us to do for the Sawi?

Different skin color, language, food, and culture... The exterior of a person or a group of people doesn't matter to Jesus and God. In Jesus' eyes we are all the same, we are the same people he created. He created each and everyone of us with love and thought. We are said to be created in the image of God. Therefore, Jesus ultimately wants each and everyone of his child to be saved by accepting him as the ultimate salvation and father of the universe.

Jesus wants us, Christians, to go into Sawi and preach the word of God. He wants us to have faith in him that his words have enough power and persuasion to change the faith of a culture that rotates around treachery and cannibalism. I believe that Jesus doesn't want us to destroy the culture when we are in the Sawi but rather help them live a life based on God. I vision that Jesus wants us to use this unique and different culture as a way to benefit us when preaching the word of God to the Sawi. He doesn't want us to preach in a condesending matter but rather in a more joyful and enthusiastic matter in which we also learn through the experiences of teaching the word of God to others.

We are equal to the Sawi. They are not inferior to us just because they have a different culture. I should be aware of this more than anyone because of the fact that I am a Korean American, someone who has a different culture as well. Therefore, I think Jesus wants me to use the fact that I am different, culture wise, to help the Sawi be accepted into this world not as an uncivilized culture, but as one of God's children.

5th entry

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

Other cultures? Other people? Opposite sex? Different age? Culture is undeniable; Whether we go to school, home, or even if we're just hanging out with our friends... Culture can be originated by many different things, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, and environment. Therefore, overall we can conclude that each and everyone that we meet or that we are confronted with at least have some different or opposing culture or ideas.

Prejudice is something that we should set aside in our minds when in contact with different people. Our human nature makes it impossible to not judge someone who's different but we should at least try. We should love everyone even our enemies. We should respect and have courtesy towards others. We should not talk with them in a condescending matter, but rather in a way that either treats them as a superior or equal. Finally, we should always have in mind that they're God's child.

But the main question we should ask our self when we are confronted with others is can we manage to keep our negative thoughts to our self. We know that it's impossible to look and think about everyone with the everlasting love God views them. Somehow if we can make come to the conclusion that we are not able to we should have enough self control and maturity to walk away from the situation so that nobody gets scarred.

To be confronted is to be face to face with something. To be confronted with different cultures means living life because nowhere we go in the world we are always face to face to some type of culture. So to be matured enough to walk away or accept a culture of other people is a life lesson.